Fear of death: everyday experience-based nurses ’observations in working with elderly and old patients ill with chronic cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Summary
Fear of death occurs when elderly and old patients (EOPs) are faced with life-threatening events
or extreme psychological stress. For most, anticipation of death triggers negative emotions such as
the fear of losing of oneself, helplessness, and a loss of control. Fear of death is one of the most
prevalent psychiatric consequences of chronic health conditions. Nurses face challenges in caring for
EOPs ill with chronic cardiovascular diseases (CCVDs) snd this is related to high emotional stress
and fatigue associated with constant monitoring of patients and managing their anxiety and fears.
Fear of death is a common concern among EOP with CCVDs. There is relatively little research that
examines the relationship between EOPs ’CCVDs and experienced fear of death phenomena from the
perspective of nurses. Research question, to which the answer was sought was ‘How do nurses de
scribe the symptoms, signs of fear of death among EOPs ’ill with CCVDs and how they recognise the
features of patients ’fear of death?’ A total of 15 nurses had participated in the study. Data were
collected by using semi-structured interviews. The manifest qualitative content analysis for data anal
ysis were applied. Findings revealed that the related emotional/psychological, physiological and be
havioural changes were observed by nurses and the characteristics for recognising the feeling of death
in patients were identified. Characteristics of EOPs ill with CCVDs and experiencing fear of death
are related to changes in emotions, behaviour and physical/physiological symptoms/signs that are
interrelated with their emotional state. The social, spiritual and creative needs of patients are intensi
fied while they experience fear of death.